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DESCRIPTION OF THE PEELI. — TWO HERDSMEN. 30 June, 
journey, were probably the first, now in England, which had ever 
been brought out of the country. 
The other antelope shot at this place, is called by the Bichuanas, 
Peeli (Paly) or, with a strong aspiration, PhelL It is found in various 
parts of the Cape Colony, where it is known to the Boors and Hot- 
tentots, by the name of Vaal Reebok (Fallow Roebuck). It is entirely 
of a brown-cinereous or grizzled color, like that of our wild rabbits : 
the under part of the body is lighter. The legs, ears, and head, are 
of the same color as the body. The tail is short and bushy, and 
thickly covered with long white hair. The horns are slender, erect, 
and nearly straight and parallel ; and are slightly annulated at the 
lower part. But the character best distinguishing it from every 
species of antelope which has fallen under my observation, is the 
soft curly or woolly nature of the hair, which, being unlike that of 
every other kind, has suggested the specific name here adopted. * 
The engraving at the end of this chapter represents the skull of the 
Peeli, and the horns in front and in profile. 
Besides these two animals, the hunters shot a zebra at a consi- 
derable distance in the plain ; and, happening to fall in with two 
Bichuanas, (or, as the Hottentots usually called them, Caffres,) they 
engaged them to remain by the carcass to save it from being devoured 
by the vultures or beasts of prey, until the waggon could be sent to 
fetch it home. These two natives were very wilHng to lend us their 
assistance, prompted, no doubt, by the expectation of receiving a 
share of the meat as a reward for their trouble ; for nothing could be 
more wretched and pitiable than their meagre starving appearance. 
They were men of the middle age, and of tall stature ; that is, above 
five feet and a half high, which, to us who had been so long 
* Antilope villosa, B. Cornua recta gracilia teretia parallelo-erecta, basibus annulatis 
(foeminae ecornes). Vellus lanatum molle fusco-cinereum. Cauda brevis dense villosa, 
pilis elongatis albis. 
The name of lanigcra having been already applied to another species, I am pre- 
cluded, by its similarity, from the use of that of lanata. 
In the British Museum I have deposited a skin of this animal, the horns of which are 
nearly eight inches and three quarters long : but they are rarely found of this length, being 
most frequently of five or six only. 
